The Tennessee Department of Human Services will raise weekly reimbursement rates for child care providers participating in the state's Child Care Certificate Program for the first time since 2008.

The weekly reimbursement rates, effective in April, will increase 35 percent for infant and toddler care and 20 percent for preschool and school-age care. The increase could mean $46 more per infant each week and $20 more for older children.

The reimbursement helps eligible working parents, those pursuing post-secondary degrees or teen parents in school to pay for child care. The rate increase comes as parents are increasingly struggling to find and afford child care services and as child care providers find the business model more challenging.

“Quality child care is essential to the development of children and the thriving Tennessee we are trying to build,” DHS Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes said in a statement. “These rate increases are a specific investment in Tennessee’s community of child care providers and will promote access to early childhood environments that are safe, healthy and educationally rich.”

Amanda Pratt assists her son Josiah, 11 months old, with dinner at their home in Nashville on June 20, 2018.(Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

In Davidson County, 435 child care centers operated last year, down 16 percent from 18 years ago, when 518 child care centers were open. The city's population has grown by 21 percent in that same time period. While the reimbursements have not changed in a decade, the cost of operating a day care has increased, according to child care providers.

Tennessee ranks in the top six states for child care costs as a percentage of household income, according to a 2016 New America Care Report. Tennessee families pay $7,406 on average for child care at a center.

Gina Tek, child care services coordinator at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, said the increase will be meaningful to families and to many of the centers providing care.

"It's good news for everybody. We have lots of families that are having trouble making ends meet," Tek said. "It’s a great opportunity for them to have support and help so they can go to work and school. It is also great for our child care providers because it gives them additional boost to income."

About 1,500 regulated child care agencies operating in Tennessee participate in the reimbursement program, and about 4,200 are eligible. Interested providers should contact the state office nearest them, which can be found at https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-assistance-office-locator.html. Parents can learn more at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-payment-assistance.html and https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/find-child-care.html.